SURG.00144 Occipital and Sphenopalatine Ganglion Nerve Block Therapy for the Treatment of Headache and Neuralgia

This policy addresses occipital nerve block therapy and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) nerve block therapy for the treatment of headaches and neuralgia. Anthem considers both therapies investigational/experimental and not medically necessary; they are not covered for occipital neuralgia or any headache syndromes, including chronic migraine, chronic daily headache, cervicogenic headache, cluster headache, and both migraine and non-migraine headaches. There are no covered indications under this policy; all uses of these nerve blocks for headache or neuralgia are noncovered.

"Occipital nerve block therapy is consideredinvestigational and not medicallynecessaryfor the treatment of occipital neuralgia and headache syndromes including, but not limited to, chronic migraine,..."

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